SHILLONG: The Congress is increasingly finding it difficult to guard its fortress with frequent desertions, the latest being members of the Nongpoh Block Congress Committee (NBCC).
Twenty members of NBCC have quit the party saying their leader, local MLA D.D Lapang, has lost his influence and is often neglected by the Government.
The members decided to quit the party during a meeting on Monday.
Block president C.B Syiem told reporters on Tuesday that Lapang, who is also the chief of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), has been “humiliated” on several occasions.
Syiem said the Mukul Sangma-led Government, taking advantage of Lapang’s old age, diverted development schemes to other places instead of Ri Bhoi district. “Nobody listens to him. There is lack of understanding even among the members of the party in Nongpoh block,” he said.
Syiem, who criticised the Government’s partiality, alleged that there is lack of cooperation and understanding in the Congress, which has compelled them to leave the party.
When asked which party they would like to join, he refused to comment. However, he maintained that the party should be cooperative.
The Congress recently also lost several members to UDP.
Commenting on whether the desertion will have any impact on the credibility and performance of Lapang in the upcoming 2018 elections, he said, “There will be a threat.”
Predicting a bleak future for the Congress, Syiem said, “A dark cloud has descended upon the Congress. It has no chance in Meghalaya. A coalition of regional parties is poised to form the government. BJP may also get (some seats).”
Leaders from the NBCC who left the Congress included Syiem as the president, working president, vice presidents, office secretary, besides executive members.
‘Diverted’ schemes
Replying to a question on which schemes were diverted from Ri Bhoi to other places, Syiem said, “The Umbuda stadium that was sanctioned with a total amount of Rs 1.75 crore. Tender was floated but it was not allotted and it got lapsed. The schemes started in the year 2007-2008.”
He further informed that the Sericulture Training Institute at Pahamsyiem at a cost of Rs 22 crore was diverted to Ampati in 2016.
“The drainage system at Nongpoh town prepared by the department of water resources was turned down twice by the Planning Department despite NEC green signal,” he said and added that they would keep a tab on these schemes.
